Man City 1-0 Inter: Rodri seals the treble
Manchester City beat Inter in the Champions League final.
Rodri was the Manchester City hero as his second-half goal sealed Champions League glory with a 1-0 victory over Inter.
City completed the treble as they followed up their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs with a first crown in Europe’s elite club competition. They have now matched rivals Manchester United, who achieved the incredible feat in 1999 and were previously the only English club to have done it.
It was a nervous night in Istanbul, but Man City midfielder Rodri grabbed the only goal 22 minutes from time, arrowing an impressive shot into the right-hand corner after Bernardo Silva’s cross deflected into his path.
A disappointing first half for City had seen them lose star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne to injury, which also happened in their Champions League final defeat to Chelsea two years ago. Additionally they survived two misplaced passes by goalkeeper Ederson, while Erling Haaland tested Andre Onana at the other end.
After the break another defensive mix-up allowed Lautaro Martinez through on goal but the Inter striker chose to shoot from a tight angle rather than square to team-mates who were better placed.
Inter, who had finished third in Serie A, more than held their own in the contest and had two glorious chances to equalise after Rodri's strike. Federico Dimarco sent a looping header off the crossbar, and with the goal gaping on the rebound he nodded his attempt against substitute Romelu Lukaku, who inadvertently blocked.
And then – after Phil Foden had shot straight at Onana with a chance to clinch it for City – Lukaku missed a glorious chance of his own.
In the last minute, Robin Gosens headed across the face of goal but Lukaku could only send his header from point-blank range straight at Ederson, the ball rebounding off the goalkeeper’s shin as City held on to make history.
Quick Quotes
Rodri to BT Sport
"Emotional. A dream come true. All these fans have waited I don't know how many years. They deserve, we deserve.
"The last years we were so close. I just want to thank everyone.
"It wasn't easy. What a team we faced, the way they defend and counter-attack.
"We gave everything. I wasn't good in the first half. Finals are like this. You can't expect to play well as always. Emotions and nerves are there.
"We competed like animals. We want more. More ambition. It's a dream. This moment will never happen again. We hope for more next year but for now we deserve to celebrate.”
Jack Grealish to BT Sport
"This is what you work your whole life for. I'm so happy.
"I was awful but I don't care. To win the treble with this group of players is so special.
"Everyone who knows me knows how much I love football and this is what I have worked for my whole life. Seeing my family in the crowd makes me so emotional.
"I just said to the manager 'I want to thank you'. He has put so much faith in me. He is a genius."
By More Than A Game